The largest Russian book publisher Eksmo is negotiating about merging its main rival AST group, reports The Kommersant.
The deal may become the largest in the history of Russian book publishing. Its sum is estimated in $ 400 million, says the newspaper. As the result the share of Eksmo in the book publishing market may double and become 20%.
According to another newspaper, The Vedomosti, the final decision on the deal has not been taken yet.
Eksmo publishing house is a shareholder of German Fabrics of Publishing, Tver Publishing Complex, a publishing house ‘Mann, Ivanov and Ferber’ and a net of 220 book shops ‘Noviy knizhniy’- ‘Bukvoed’.
AST group owns some book publishers: AST, Astrel, Vostok-Zapad, Avanta+ and others; book shop nets Bukva, Ot A do Ya, Bukbaster and a publishing house Primiera media.
Author: Irina Fomina